Pharrell Williams And Happy

I know I’m late in the game when it comes to this because I had never even heard of Pharrell Williams, let alone his fantabulous song Happy.

One of the ladies I work with has been telling me for the past month that whenever she hears this song, she always thinks of me.

In case you’re like me and haven't heard the song or watched the video, it’s basically a simple, but very catching tune that really makes you feel good!

Honestly, since I first heard it last week, I haven’t been able to get this song out of my head. I have it downloaded on my computer and will listen to it several times a day; dancing around my apartment like a crazy person. It's a great tune to listen to whenever you have household chores to do.

Now the amazing thing about Happy is that it’s gone VIRAL. Not only is the original video being watched all over the world, but people have created their own videos to the song and are posting them online.

Also, Pharrell Williams created the world’s first 24-hour music video website, known as 24 Hours of Happy. It’s an ingenious interactive work that moves through the day in real time, following a cast of hundreds of quirky people, a few celebrities and Pharrell Williams, as they dance through Los Angeles. It quickly became a popular site, with nearly 5.5 million views, and a reputation as a surefire mood booster.

So you know me, I HAD to create my own Happy video.

However, it’s not nearly as involved and elaborate as some of the one’s I’ve seen over at You Tube. I used several photos from the original video and photos of people from various countries who are singing and dancing to this song in their part of the globe; fusing them within my own singing and dancing.

And I have to tell you, as simple and short as this video is, it took FOREVER to make because of the editing process. But I have to say, the more I keep making these videos the more I learn about editing.

*Inside story: I almost had this entire video completed after working on it for TWO days, when I accidentally deleted ALL the video clips that were on my computer, not realizing that when I deleted them, I also deleted them on the video. OMG...when I realized what I had done, it took every bit of strength I had inside me to not SCREAM at the top of my lungs and stab myself repeatedly with a push pin. I was livid with myself for doing that and almost gave up by calling it quits. However, I bit the bullet and went back outside for THREE hours and reshot the opening to this video, plus I had to reshoot the video clips I had filmed inside my apartment.

62 comments

Thank YOU. Happy is very infectious, I was jigging away as I watched BOTH videos. I admire your determination to carry on when all else has seemingly failed, or rather destroyed... lol. I would have given up at the first hurdle. Not that I could attempt something like that... like I said, I admire your determination as well as your know-how! Happy Monday to you too xx

Oh, man, that's wonderful!!! And you know, when I heard the song when it was first on the radio, I also thought of you - seemed like the sort of song you'd like. It's so upbeat that even when I'm not particularly happy, hearing it makes me feel better. You're story of deleting the videos and then having to re-shoot seems like a nice metaphor - you acknowledge the frustration and then just return to being happy.

I've bookmarked that 24-hour site - I think I'd like it available when I need a lift. I'm a "dance around the house like a crazy person" sort, too.

Oh Ron, what a WONDERFUL video! And I have to say the same as Rob, you can really bust a move. You are so cute!

I love this song too! I have it on my iPod and will listen to it whenever I go out for a jog. I agree, the beat is so catchy. And I think songs like this are so contagious because of the positive message. It's the same with Katy Perry's song Roar.

Thank you for sharing this today, Mr. Happy! And I love the photo of you as Pharrell. Have a wonderful week x

"Happy is very infectious, I was jigging away as I watched BOTH videos."

Isn't this song faaaaaabulously infectious? I love the beat. They sometimes play it at work and I will start dancing right there on the sales floor - HA!

" I would have given up at the first hurdle."

OMG...you have no idea how mad and disheartened I felt when I realized I had deleted the video clips. But I was so determined to complete this video that I went outside yesterday and reshot what I had filmed on the street and then came home and reshot the clips I had filmed in my apartment. And actually, it worked out better because I discovered a few more editing effects on Windows Movie Maker which enhanced the video.

I was so determined to make this video, even though I freakin' DELETED the original clips. And it actually ended up being for the best because I discovered a few different effects on Windows Movie Maker, that made the video better.

"My son's dorm that he will be in next year made a HAPPY video. It was really good because they shot it at so many locations on campus and used a variety of students."

OMG...how faaaaaaaabulous!!!!!! And if he sends you the video, I would LOVE to see it!

"Did you hear about the whole Arby's hat thing with Pharrell? Google it!"

" And you know, when I heard the song when it was first on the radio, I also thought of you - seemed like the sort of song you'd like."

Really? Oh how funny! And yes, it IS the kind of song I like. I LOVE the beat!

"You're story of deleting the videos and then having to re-shoot seems like a nice metaphor - you acknowledge the frustration and then just return to being happy."

Yes, you are SO spot on about that because I kept thinking that to myself when I went back outside to reshoot it - "Remember Ron....be HAPPY." And actually, it ended up being for the best because I discovered some really cool effects on Windows Movie Maker that enhanced the video.

"I've bookmarked that 24-hour site - I think I'd like it available when I need a lift. I'm a "dance around the house like a crazy person" sort, too."

Do you know what's funny about that? Had I NOT accidentally deleted the video clips on my computer and reshot them, I would have never discovered the 'slow mo' effect on Windows Movie Maker, so it actually ended up turning out for the best. But boy...you should have seen how mad I was when I first realized what I had done. I was LIVID.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by, buddy. Have a super week and enjoy your day off.

How I did that was to listen to the song via my CD play (which you can see the head phone in my left ear). Then, after I uploaded the video to Windows Movie Maker, I downloaded the song onto the music track, and then synced it to my mouth. That was probably one of the most challenging things to do - editing the song to match my mouth.

The fast and slow mo were two effects I discovered on Windows Movie Maker. And actually, had I not accidentally deleted the videos, I would have never discovered those effects because I didn't have them on the original video.

Much thanks for stopping by, bud. Have a most excellent and happy week!

I am going to say something and I am sure get a lot of boos. But I actually HATE this song. I can't explain why but it seriously irritates me. That being said, I adored your video. I really like that you incorporated the minions because that is the first time I heard the song (despicable me 2). This was another feel good post, love that you are a blogger I can count on for a smile. Thanks Ronnie!

I understand why the video went viral. It is happy, happy, happy. :)The song is good but the all different dancers is what what got me all excited.You've got some moves too Ron - not bad!The picture of you with the hat is terrific! That's the one you should post on this blog.

I knew who Pharrell Williams was, but hadn't heard this song until he performed it on the Oscars last week. Catchy stuff, and your video is - as usual - well done and fun. You missed your true calling, my friend!

We are SO the same person. I was just telling a co-worker today how much I LOVE this song! It only came on my radar in the last week, too, so we must have had our heads buried in the same sandbox. Great moves, baby! Watching this made me HAPPY! :-)

"The song is good but the all different dancers is what what got me all excited."

Yes...me as well! I loved all the dancers in the original video. They're faaaaaaabulous! In fact, I was trying to think of a way to filmed people on the streets here, while dancing to the music and putting them in this video clip. Two things: I couldn't figure out HOW to play the music (other than carrying a boom box). And also, I didn't know how to legally get their consent to being seen in this video ONLINE.

Okay, I'll admit to never having seen this video before, and darn it if I couldn't tear myself away from it. Gotta say, this is one of the best music videos I've seen this year. I was surprised by some of the cameos in this one! And now I find that this song is stuck in my head on an infinite loop, much like the "Everything Is Awesome" song from The Lego Movie. Argh....curse you, Ron! ;-) Heh...

" I am in love with song too. I heard it about two months ago and was addicted!"

Robert, isn't it an AWESOME song???? I've been listening to it since last week, and then when I made this video, I must have listened to it over 100 times! I love the beat, the words, and the whole 'feel good' feeling you get.

And thank you :) Glad you enjoyed the video. I shot the whole thing with my camera and then created the video using different effects on Windows Movie Maker. I almost gave up when I accidentally deleted all the video clips I had made, and was almost completed finished with the video. But I was determined to get this thing made.

Much thanks for stopping by, buddy. And yes, feel free to stop back and watch it whenever you wish. Have a super HAPPY week!

ron, i heard this song three times this morning only being in the car for about 20 minutes. it was on three different stations. i love this song, when i played it now, my kid stopped what she was doing and ran over to the computer so we could clap and dance. it's just a good old rump shaking song. loved your video!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM DYING!!!! DYING, I SAY, DYING!!!! When you did the crotch jiggle and turned and did the butt jiggle I TOTALLY laughed out loud... OMG you are so funny!!!!!! I know you went through a lot to get all that done... but you MADE ME HAPPY!!! HA HA HA this totally made my night!

You know, watching you walk the city... my first thought was how I thought it was so cool you could do that in public.. my second is that I loved seeing you, loved seeing the buildings behind... I would REALLY REALLY love to see you talking on a video showing things around you... I would LOVE that!

What I ended up doing with my dance sequence in the video was to SPEED up the timing, so looked like I was dancing in fast motion - HA! And I would have never found that effect if it hadn't been that I had to reshoot them because I didn't even notice that effect option when I first made it.

"my first thought was how I thought it was so cool you could do that in public."

That's one of the cool things I love about living in a city, no one even notices you doing stuff like this - especially in a city NY.

"I would REALLY REALLY love to see you talking on a video showing things around you..."

THANK YOU for your suggestion because I may do that. Great idea! What I would love to do is have someone else film me doing it, sort of like a documentary on the city streets.

This is so freakin' awesome Ron!!! I am seriously dancin' around my kitchen right now to this music!! I have to admit I laughed out loud to your video!! It was totally worth it TO US...that you had to redo the video! You have brought joy to the millions of your fans that come here for your humor!! Do you have ANY idea how much we rely on you??? No pressure...right?? I have to freakin' idea who that guy is...Pharrell?? I'm just a middle aged white lady and I have no clue...bwahahahaha!! Keep on Rockin' cause we all love it and YOU, my friend!! xo

HA! Don't feel bad because I didn't either, Jeanne. Not until the lovely lady who I work with told me about this song. Then one day (at work) I heard it, so I came home and searched for the video on You Tube and was HOOKED! Isn't it a GREAT song? I've been dancing to it since last week!

I can totally see this for you! (but the link to Happy in the first paragraph doesn't work) :-( Great job on your editing skills for your version. Very funny! Hope you have a happy week! Now, I'm wondering why the song Come On, Get Happy is playing in my head?!

Ha ha ha! Oh, Ron! You made me laugh out loud. That's a brilliant movie and well worth a second shot at it. I did that same thing, with the first movie I made. I didn't find out until I went to write the movie, the next day, that they were all gone!

Hey Lisa, thank you so much for letting me know about the video link. Apparently the video to that link on You Tube was removed sometime day because it worked yesterday. Anyhoo, I just changed the link to a working video if you want to watched it.

And thank you, my friend...glad you enjoyed my video :)

" Now, I'm wondering why the songCome On, Get Happy is playing in my head?!"

Ron, what did I tell you. I came back and watched your video again tonight and laughed! I love the ending where the video goes in slow motion. Okay, I think I'll watch it one more time after I leave this comment. Bye!

OMG.......I woulda tossed my hands up and had a few words with the Big Guy. LOL I'm sooo into personal responsibility. But then again, it made for MORE happy moments, wiggling and singing and clapping. WORTH it. OMgosh.....made my morning, sir. Absolutely made my morning. Mighta made the whole day, truth be told.

I liked the movie and I adore the minions simply cuz......how could ya not adore 'em! They make me laugh. Maybe that's what oughta be on the television this evening--I definitely can use the laughter right now.

I'm coming back for more. And I'm gonna try looping the song so it's playing again and again and again. If it's gonna be stuck--might as well blare it for the neighborhood to hear, eh?! LOL Himself could use a dose of 'HAPPY' about now, too.

So....wow.....you going back and persevering (even though it musta been a pissed off beyond all recognition moment) paid off a thousand fold!((((((( Ron ))))))))))

Sorry I haven't been around Ron, we were away last week and I'm still trying to catch up on my blog reading. I absolutely L.O.V.E. this song and have done since I first heard it! It really does make you feel HAPPY and makes me want to dance! xx

Did you miss me as much as I've missed the blogging world?? I've been out of pocket (traveling back home) and trying to play catch up with everything I left behind; thus, I was AWOL as to comments.

What a catchy tune for a grey day! And Ron, you've done an outstanding job with your video. Yes, the editing definitely is the hard and tricky part, but everything we learn has value -- and you're learning something FUN! I can see where you'd listen to this HAPPY song several times a day!

"OMG.......I woulda tossed my hands up and had a few words with the Big Guy."

OMG Mel, you have no idea how LIVID I was when I discovered that I had accidentally deleted those video clips! And not only that, but when I went back outside to reshoot it, EVERYTHING went wrong - the batteries in both my CD player AND my camera died, so I had to buy new batteries. And midway through the day, my headphones broke, so I only had one head phone to listen through. Also, the wind was so severe that day that it kept blowing the headphone out of my ear, so I had to stop and redo it again. Grrrrrrrrrr!?!**

I finally just started to LAUGH at the irony of it all and be HAPPY!

"I adore the minions simply cuz."

Yup...aren't the minions ADORABLE? I just had to put them in this video!

Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. And I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video and it made you HAPPY.

"I did that same thing, with the first movie I made. I didn't find out until I went to write the movie, the next day, that they were all gone!"

OMG...is that not the WORST feeling in the world when you realized you did it? I had deleted them into my recycle bin but when I went to restore them, I accidentally hit NO instead of YES. POOF...they were gone!